Hugh Bayley calls for York to be ‘special case’ for housing benefits

9:50am Thursday 24th January 2013 in News

A YORK MP has called for the city to be treated as a “special case” in his bid to narrow the gap between housing benefits and rent levels.

Hugh Bayley, who represents York Central, said residents on benefits in York were struggling to pay for their accommodation because the figure used to calculate how much they receive includes other parts of the region, such as Selby, Malton and Tadcaster, which have much lower rents. He tabled a House of Commons amendment to the Welfare Benefits Up-Rating Bill, which would have ensured annual reviews of the situation were carried out, but said the time allocated by the Government for debating benefits meant it could not be discussed.

“York needs to be treated as a special case for housing benefits, and if any of my constituents are facing homelessness because of the gap between their rent and the amount they receive in housing benefits, they should contact my office so I can raise their cases with the minister,” said Mr Bayley. He said he wanted the city’s benefit levels to be based on the City of York Council area alone.

Comments(7)

ayork says...
11:01am Thu 24 Jan 13

The major issue I have is if Mr Bayley got his way all this would do is make rents in York even more expensive as it would just artificially increase rent prices and house prices further as well as landlords make more and more money through rents.

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bob the builder says...
11:42am Thu 24 Jan 13

York rents are artificially high because landlords know there are commuters to London who know its cheaper to travel and live in York than living in London and a lot nicer. What Hugh should do is lobby the government on local authority housing provision. Having put all the stress of provision and maintenance on private sector Housing Associations, central government is now pulling the financing rug from under them by paying housing benefit direct to tenants who will squander their rent money. They will then be evicted for non payment, be homeless and the council will be obligated to put them in B&B accomodation at great expense to the local taxpayer. The government idea that these people have to learn to budget is stupid at best, they cannot unlearn years and generations of negative behaviours.

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Blythespirit says...
12:44pm Thu 24 Jan 13

We should have rent controls like we did in the old days. A house should not be allowed to be rented out for more as an HMO than it would be rented for as one unit. This would discourage greedy landlords from turning family homes into HMOs in order to coin it in from the student population.

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Fat Harry says...
1:08pm Thu 24 Jan 13

A combination of rent control and investment in public-sector housing is needed to counter the greedy landlords and close the gap in York's low-pay, high rent economy.

Not holding my breath, mind.

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Fat Harry says...
1:08pm Thu 24 Jan 13

A combination of rent control and investment in public-sector housing is needed to counter the greedy landlords and close the gap in York's low-pay, high rent economy.

Not holding my breath, mind.

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isitjustme says...
9:03pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Rent Control. Great idea Fat Harry. Try picking up an economics 101 text book and learning why you are so wrong.

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capt spaulding says...
10:16pm Thu 24 Jan 13

Blythespirit wrote:
We should have rent controls like we did in the old days. A house should not be allowed to be rented out for more as an HMO than it would be rented for as one unit. This would discourage greedy landlords from turning family homes into HMOs in order to coin it in from the student population.
Ah yes the good old days when Fred Kite was a shop steward.
Im alright Jack........everybod
y OUT OUT OUT. Then the lights went off 3 days a week, inflation at its peak and millions out of work.

I dont think so.

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